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Playing poker while in school and trying to pay bills. Get a Job???

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  1. ndahlhoff10 ndahlhoff10 is offline

    MI
    United States

    Posts: 190
    Joined: May 08

    Nov 4th, 2008 (11/4/2008 8:30pm)

    OK. This might get long:
    I'm a junior in college and have been playing poker instead of getting the usual bullshit part-time job like most students end up getting. I've been playing for 3 years and just recently (past 5 months or so) my game has began to improve dramatically. I've become a lot more critical and am working on improving my game much more than i ever used to. Basically, I'm really excited about my potential to become a very good player.

    My problem is that I'm trying to pay all my bills out of my br, which isnt that big to begin with. I live near campus so rent is a ton. Overall my living expenses are at least $700/month, textbooks are expensive. plus you have to add in beer/weed. In December I owe $1900 for 4 months rent, which I just cashed off ftp and have set aside. Other than that I have $1800 online and have been grinding $.25/.50 or .5/1 along with mixing in tournaments, but i havent been able to put in anywhere near the volume I'd like to. On average I've been playing about 15-20 hours/week.

    I could get a job, but would end up making less than my hourly rate now, but my dad offered to pay $2000 of my school. This would allow me to keep my br online and not have to be withdrawing regularly. I'm just not sure how much I'd be able to play if I were working as I'm already not playing as much as I'd like. Also, I'm in college and don't really want to spend a bunch of time working when I could be having fun either playing poker or hanging out.

    So....Get a job or keep doing what I've been doing?
     
  2. ImaBustYou ImaBustYou is offline

    Milwaukee, WI
    United States

    Posts: 1,794
    Joined: Sep 07

    Nov 4th, 2008 (11/4/2008 8:35pm) in reply to ndahlhoff10

    so what is the problem?? Keep grinding when you have time and increase your BR. Take out what you have to and dont go up limits. Seems like you already have the rent off line, so just keep grinding. Use proper br management and if you hit a downswing, then get a part-time job.
  3. squintster squintster is offline

    Playa del Carmen
    Mexico

    Posts: 1,092
    Joined: Jan 08

    Nov 4th, 2008 (11/4/2008 8:37pm) in reply to ndahlhoff10

    I played poker (~15hrs/wk) while serving tables (~15-20hrs/wk) while going to school (full time ~12-14hrs/semester). works well if u have good time mgt.
    334 
  4. elendil elendil is offline

    Sydney
    Australia

    Posts: 2,758
    Joined: Jun 07

    Nov 4th, 2008 (11/4/2008 8:40pm) in reply to squintster

    Sleep Less IMO
  5. cbrianm cbrianm is offline

    Fayetteville, NC
    United States

    Posts: 262
    Joined: Mar 08

    Nov 4th, 2008 (11/4/2008 8:43pm) in reply to ndahlhoff10

    You don't have work-study at your school? If that opportunity is there for you, do it. Easy hours, decent pay, plus you can keep grinding poker as well.. win win
  6. OGPokerman OGPokerman is offline

    La Quinta, CA
    United States

    Posts: 6,921
    Joined: Jul 05

    Nov 4th, 2008 (11/4/2008 8:45pm) in reply to ndahlhoff10

    ok i was in same boat...playin for 3 years and i did what you are gonna do. Poker is like a drug. Im ruined. Ruined as in...i cant possibly imagine getting a job now. If i could turn back the clock i would only play on sundays and wednesday nights. And have a real job during the week to maintain normalcy and not get stuck in the poker life.

    Now, if you hit a big one while your doing this..i mean like 100k plus, then...is when i would ditch the job and go to school and play poker. If u play poker for too long as a sole income and get into a bad run, watcha gonna do? Then you will start getting nervous when shit isnt going right but yet you still have to make a withdrawl. Then your life will turn to shit and you will be goin for it..etc etc..with no outs.

    I would keep the outs you have...the job...the school...only keep your BR for what you can enjoy. And cash out comfort money. And only play on the weekends...

    Cuz once you go Poke...its hard to go back...lol.
    gl with your decision
     
  7. ndahlhoff10 ndahlhoff10 is offline

    MI
    United States

    Posts: 190
    Joined: May 08

    Nov 4th, 2008 (11/4/2008 8:47pm) in reply to squintster

    My time management could definitely be improved a ton. As im on P5's instead of studying for my exam tomorrow. But my main problem is that I'm tired of playing small stakes and being pretty much without a roll all the time. I'm not that interested in grinding $50NL without much potential to build a serious bankroll.
     
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